FanDuel Launching Friday in Washington; Caesars Partnering With Spokane Tribe

Sports fans in the state of Washington do not have real money online casino nor online sports betting options yet, but they will have more retail sports betting options available soon.

FanDuel’s retail sportsbook operation at a Washington tribal casino is getting underway in time for the NFL’s biggest event, and Caesars Sportsbook has announced a new deal to provide sports betting at another tribal casino in the Evergreen State.

FanDuel Sportsbook Launching Friday

FanDuel Sportsbook is launching operations at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort on Friday at 4 p.m. PT. The operator’s deal with the casino in Suquamish, a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle, was announced in September.

At the time, the hope was that the sportsbook would be in operation for some of the NFL season. As it turns out, it will be taking wagers for this weekend’s Pro Bowl and, of more obvious importance, the Super Bowl on Feb. 13 when the Los Angeles Rams meet the Cincinnati Bengals.

According to a release from FanDuel, former Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent – also a former member of the U.S. Congress serving his native Oklahoma – will attend Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Largent, who spent his whole NFL career with the Seahawks and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is still by far Seattle’s all-time franchise receiving leader in yards (13,089), touchdowns (100) and catches (819).

The FanDuel retail sports betting operation at the casino will include a 2,000-square-foot sportsbook, three windows for live betting and 12 self-service kiosks, provided by IGT PlaySports, according to the release.

Caesars Agrees To Deal With Spokane Tribe

Another major sports betting operator, Caesars Sportsbook, announced an agreement with the Spokane Tribe Casino to provide services there.

The Spokane Tribe Casino’s facility is in Airway Heights, near Spokane city limits on the eastern end of Washington.

The Caesars Sportsbook retail location is part of an expansion at the casino.

“As we look toward the completion of our first phase of expansion, this partnership is an important component for us as a growing casino,” Carol Evans, Chairwoman of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, said in a news release.

The sportsbook will also include a new dining option.

Other Sportsbook Deals in Washington

Tribal casinos in Washington have been quick to move in adding sports betting options since the U.S. Department of the Interior approved the practice in 2021.

Aside from the FanDuel launch and the new Caesars deal, other operators have been establishing a presence in the state even without a true mobile sports betting option.

The BetMGM Sportsbook at the Emerald Queen Casino (actually two facilities in Tacoma) launched in December 2021.

Also, the Snoqualmie Casino launched an online sports betting operation, albeit one available only for customers inside of the casino. The facility’s sports betting is through International Gaming Technology. Most states with a true online sports betting option (one available from anywhere in the state, not only from inside a casino) have seen anywhere from 80% to 98% of their action arrive via that market rather than retail.